By David Fanucchi
At no time in recent memory, have high school student-athletes had their world disrupted more than right now, at this very moment. The Coronavirus (Covid-19) world health crisis has had a larger impact on our society than any of us thought could be possible, even just three weeks ago.
The number of complicated issues for high school student-athletes in the recruiting space were already massive, even before this virus shut things down. Spring schedules in baseball, softball, soccer, golf and swimming have been wiped away. Yeah, athletes can do drills and train at home all day, but it’s not the same. There are practically zero baseball season stats to send to college coaches, or game video highlights to post on social media. Football players aren’t playing 7-on-7 games or doing team strength & conditioning workouts. Volleyball players’ club season and practice schedules have been shut down. Basketball players have no teammates to pass to or work on plays with.
“The saddest part of it all for me, is the missing out on the chance to be with your teammates, and to play those games together for your high school. I especially feel worse for the seniors, the guys who were grinding to finally play their senior year, and it got cut short with no playoffs,” said junior catcher Bennett Markinson of Harvard Westlake HS in Studio City, CA. “Those guys were hoping to prove something that they could play at the next level, and now that’s gone. At least I have next year.”
Markinson and his family are currently right in the heart of the heavy recruiting phase of his baseball life. As a 6-0, 180 pound junior with huge upside on the field, a 4.3 GPA and a 1510 SAT score, Bennett is absorbing as much information as he can to make a logical decision about where he should play college baseball.
“There is a growing uncertainty out there now with recruiting that is affecting most everything about the recruiting landscape,” Sports Force College Baseball Recruiter Ryan Thompson said. “So – now more than ever – having the correct information as well as someone in the trenches for you navigating the recruiting process, is going to be critical. Choosing the right path and opportunity with respect to college is arguably the biggest decision that a high school student-athlete has to make. And unfortunately now it’s becoming an extremely complicated and convoluted process to come to that decision.”
Thompson’s job is to advise recruitable student-athletes like Markinson with information that helps them and their families organize and prioritize what he calls the “checklist of boxes” that the student-athlete must make, in order to come to an appropriate and ultimately successful decision.
“The whirlwind of information, data and perspective-changing activity in college athletics is really overwhelming,” said Barrett’s father Keith Markinson. “That is where Ryan and SportsForce have really helped us the most. Having them as a backstop, helping us see all the parameters, kickstarting the process, crafting videos with what colleges want to see, getting an intro email drafted the right way. SportsForce has been a great resource that we’ve relied on for all of those actions.”
According to Thompson, some of the largest boxes (in no particular order) that he believes athletes must put value and stock into include:
Roster Spot – Am I guaranteed a spot or will I need to earn it during tryouts? How many other athletes do I have to compete with on the team, that play my position?
Money – Am I being offered scholarship money, or just a chance to play? What is the yearly tuition I’ll have to pay, if I’m not offered any financial help?
Value of the Degree – What is the value of a degree from this college in the job market?
Major – Does the school specialize in the major that I want to study? Does it even offer my major?
Reason for Competing – Is my goal to become a professional in this sport, or just to be on a team and try to win an NCAA Championship?
Winning or Losing – Is this college any good at the sport I want to play? Do they have a history of winning?
Support System – Who are the coaches and the support system that I will be surrounded by? Are they positive and likeable? Are my parents comfortable with them? Do my parents trust them?
“The problem that most parents don’t realize, is that the priority for their kids on those boxes often evolve. As students grow in size, age, and knowledge, they become more self-aware, and they are able to better self-evaluate themselves among their peers, to have a deeper understanding about what their true athletic talent and projection really is,” said Thompson. “Even really great athletes that have multiple D-1 offers need help organizing the nuances of each situation, in order to choose the right plan. And you have to be able to adjust that decision as the student-athlete and the family gain a better sense of reality over time.”
Further complicating the process for most athletes is the inconsistent messaging they receive from their high school coaches, compared to their club ball coaches. The opinions and the different set of priorities among both, creates a tougher environment for teenagers to develop an accurate sense of self-awareness. “When students are better able to fully understand their true ability, and where they fit even within their own teams, they are able to rank their checklist of boxes a whole lot better,” Thompson said. “Unless they have someone to help them see through an objective lens, they’ll often make uneducated, even naive decisions, and typically waste thousands of dollars each year chasing down the wrong college camps and showcases. Too many parents try to be that person to guide them, and that lens is not realistic enough.”
Now, with the NCAA’s newest announcement that ALL spring sport college athletes that have had their seasons impacted by Covid-19 will receive an additional year of eligibility, it adds even another layer of complexity to the situation.
“I think that at colleges where the yearly tuition price tag is high – fewer student-athletes will return. Tough to rationalize the bill, when you have a job waiting for you after graduation in May,” Thompson said. “But this ruling will affect everyone on every roster somehow. There will now be fewer D-1 opportunities for 2020 grads to earn roster spots or playing time with more seniors coming back. And redshirt freshman players will now face a bigger stack of guys to beat out for playing time. Many D-1 seniors may think of transferring to a better program, to try and win or get better exposure. You are going to have guys moving around all over the board.”
ESPN College Baseball Analyst Mike Rooney weighed in with his thoughts on a recent podcast hosted by SportsForce CEO Andrew Beinbrink.
And according to D1baseball.com’s Kendall Rogers, this decision by the NCAA will have far-ranging implications for years to come:
NCAA Division I Council Gives Blanket Eligibility Waiver
For parents and players, being hand-delivered all of the critical information you need from the various programs that are interested in making an offer, is an incredible value and service. Parents can save countless hours by avoiding much of the tedious recruiting research and work that is required, while players can simply focus on improving their ability. They all know that a professional with their best interests in mind is managing the craziness for them so that they can relax and enjoy the journey.
“For me right now, I just want to find the right balance of academics and location, with a great baseball program that is going to help me improve my skills,” said Markinson. “It’s still early in the process, but I know that working with Ryan and SportsForce is going to allow me to make a clear and solid decision. If I can turn that into a chance to play pro ball, I’ll determine that later. But I need to make sure I get a good degree as a backup plan, and you have to consider that at all times.”
Click here to READ the new The State of College Recruiting – Part I.
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